Welcome to the Southern Appalachian Biodiversity Institute.  Our site is under construction, so please be patient, and be sure to check back often for updated information. Who We Are  SABI is a non-profit (application pending) scientific research and education organization dedicated to developing a synthetic understanding of the biological diversity that inhabits the Southern Appalachians.  While there are many organizations that work to protect this region's biota, our mission is aimed at synthesizing scientific information on the distribution and abundance of all taxa throughout the region.  Our other goal is to educate the public in general, as well as particular stakeholders, about this diversity, and about the biology of particular species as well.  This includes government agencies, non-governmental organizations, land managers and other decision makers who are involved in mangement decisions affecting the region.  We can marshal taxonomic expertise from experts around the world.   If you have comments or questions, or are interested in getting involved or making a contribution towards our mission, contact us by clicking here or see the About SABI page for other contact information. Thanks for visiting! The Southern Appalachian Mountains are an ancient, topographically diverse mountain range.  These two features- antiquity and topographic diversity - provide a wide array of habitats and microhabitats for both flora and fauna, and have contributed to the high levels of diversity and endemism that is unparalleled in the temperate zone.  Fungi, mosses, liverworts, terrestrial snails, freshwater mussels, spiders, many insect groups, freshwater fishes and salamanders are all terrifically diverse within this region.  For instance, nearly 10% of global salamander diversity and 10% of freshwater mussel diversity occur in this region. Where are the Southern Appalachians?  Sometimes called the Southern Appalachian Highlands, this region can be defined both geologically and floristically.  It is the high mountain region that ranges approximately from Mt. Rogers and Whitetop Mt., Virginia in the north, to the Great Smoky Mountains in the southwest, south to the southern escarpment of the Blue Ridge, and east to Mt. Mitchell in the Black Mountains (reddish/purplish areas in map).  There are more species of salamanders in the Southern Appalachians than in any other temperate region, including many endemic species (species that occur only in this one place).  Presently, 47 described species, and 6 other species that are new to science (not formally described) inhabit this region.  Ongoing genetic studies of many forms will probably result in recognition of additional species that will further increase this number.  Among the Southern Appalachian endemics is the pygmy salamander (Desmognathus wrighti) which inhabits high elevation spruce-fir forests, and mature moist cove forest stands.  The pygmy salamander occurs only within the Southern Appalachians Small Whorled Pogonia, a federally threatened species in the Southern Appalachians Understory plants in the Southern Appalachians are incredibly diverse but many are highly susceptible to alteration of the forest canopy.  More than 2,000 species of vascular plants occur in the Southern Appalachians, making it one of the most botanically diverse regions in the temperate zone.  Hundreds of these species including herbaceous understory plants such as the Small Whorled Pagonia (Isotria medeoloides), are endangered or threatened with extinction because of land use practices and development.  Many species have restricted ranges and occur in specialized habitats, or require intact canopy and moist understory conditions, which are destroyed by logging. A grassy bald in the Southern Appalachian Mountains